Arrested woman turns over her tote bag and the surprise koala therein

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 By 
Elise Cooper
 on 
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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

In Australia, the best kind of koala is a surprise koala. That's just a fact.

Law enforcers in Queensland, Australia found that out when conducting a routine arrest of a Brisbane woman, who handed over her bag saying it contained some precious cargo.

Confused, police took a closer look inside the woman's tote to find that a gorgeous six-month-old koala joey snuggled up within.


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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The woman advised police that she happened upon the orphaned animal the previous evening and had taken it into her own care -- something wild animal welfare agency, the RSPCA, strongly advises people against.

According to a Queensland Police statement, little cutie was given a check-up by an RSPCA officer and is said to be in good health, if a little dehydrated.

A spokesperson for RSPCA Queensland Michael Beatty said the joey, temporarily named 'Alfred' was placed on fluids and has been taken to a qualified carer.

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Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Beatty said "the RSPCA is urging anyone who finds a koala not to attempt to handle it. Often the animal may have no obvious signs of injury but it can have internal injuries that need immediate attention."

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Koalas are protected under the Nature Conservation Act. A state plan which has been in effect since Oct. 2006 to prevent a decline in the local koala population and to encourage breeding and species recovery.

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Elise Cooper

Previous Watercooler Web Culture Intern - Sydney Australia // misc burden on society

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